What is it about?
Since 2000, extensive research has investigated the criteria that emerging adults (aged 18 to 25) use to define adulthood. This research has shown consistently that the traditional adulthood markers (e.g., marriage or parenthood) are not considered important, while psychological criteria, such as assuming responsibility for one's actions, are considered important. Less is known about how other age groups define adulthood.
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Why is it important?
By focusing on one age group only (18 to 25), it is difficult to understand if a finding is specific to this age group and how this finding occurred. Considering that parents form important socialization agents, the similarities between emerging adults and their parents implies that emerging adults learn what is adulthood via their parents.
Perspectives
This is a study that took place during the first lockdown in March 2020. Despite the very difficult circumstances, participants were willing to participate in a study that sets the stage for uncovering possible mechanisms behind a consistent finding.
Dr. Georgios Vleioras
University of Thessaly
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: What Is Adulthood? A Comparison of the Adulthood Criteria of Greek Emerging Adults and Their Parents, The Journal of Genetic Psychology, July 2021, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2021.1957761.
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